Upper

A general lack of weather load outside some parts of the West and Upper Plains and the previous day’s screen drop resulted in mixed pricing Tuesday in which losses slightly outweighed gains. There was little rhyme or reason in the distribution of movement, as various points within specific market areas went both up and down.

Alberta, source of four-fifths of Canadian natural gas production, has reached its natural upper limit as a supplier and its industry will have to scramble to maintain current output, the National Energy Board says.

Alberta, source of four-fifths of Canadian natural gas production, has reached its natural upper limit as a supplier and its industry will have to scramble to maintain current output, the National Energy Board says.

With most of the remaining very cold weather staying confined to the Rockies, Upper Plains and western Midwest, a significant rally in prices did not seem to be in the cards. But numbers rose at all points Tuesday between about 15 cents and 30 cents, with a large majority of gains being in the 20s.

As the new year has brought steep mercury drops in many areas of the U.S., Joe Bastardi, senior expert meteorologist for AccuWeather.com, said it is almost certain that for many people it’s going to be the coldest 20-day period experienced since the winter of 1996.

Winter storms and an OFO caused big price jumps Monday in the West, while freezing low temperatures in the Upper Plains and Midwest helped generate sizeable gains there and in the Midcontinent supply area. Elsewhere in the market numbers were mixed but mostly lower as the near-term forecasts remained relatively moderate for the end of December.

Winter made its official debut Sunday, but outside of the Rockies and Upper Plains there was little evidence of the season Monday. Forecasts of continuing relatively mild weather through the weekend helped accelerate the price declines that had begun Friday. Monday’s losses were generally in the range of 35-85 cents, with most exceeding half a dollar.

It’s getting hot again in the Southwest and even chillier in the Midwest and Upper Plains. Those fundamental weather boosts, along with increased interest in storage buying while prices are still relatively low, were enough to generate a rally throughout most of the cash market Monday, despite lingering power outages and/or mild weather dampening demand in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Hot weather throughout most of the U.S. (with the exception of mild conditions in the Upper Midwest) spurred price increases ranging from about a nickel to 15 cents at nearly all points Monday. Continuation of firming numbers was in doubt, however, due to cold fronts in the Midwest and approaching the Northeast, with the one in the Midwest due to push on into the South over the next day or two.